Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (2025)

One of the unfortunate realities of wrestling is that, inevitably, these incredible athletes must one day retire. No matter how long a wrestler competes, age and injuries will eventually catch up to them. But even then, veterans of the squared circle somehow managed to exceed expectations and defy time.

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Be it WWE, TNA or AEW, there are numerous legends who still perform to this day. But whereas some wrestlers are still able to entertain and compete as well as their heyday, others are long past their prime, to the point where they risk tarnishing their legacies.

Can Still Perform: PCO

The 38-Year Veteran Is A Reliable Performer For Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Carl Ouellet

6'1"

300 lbs

PCOsault

  • ROH World Champion (1 time)
  • ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • ROH World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • TNA Digital Media Champion (1 time)
  • WCW Hardcore Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Tag Team Champion (3 times)

In his prime, Pierre Carl Ouellet had a very good WWE run as one of The Quebecers, but Ouellet seems to have now reached the height of his popularity as PCO in TNA. The French Frankenstein-gimmick has gotten over huge with fans, but even at the age of fifty-seven, PCO has proved he can still deliver great performances in the ring.

From his battles with Jonah, Moose and Eddie Edwards, PCO has proven to be a valuable asset to TNA since his return to the promotion in 2022. He can still deliver monstrous chokeslams and amazing moonsaults with such ferocity and grace, proving that there's plenty of life left in the veteran!

Should Stay Retired: Shawn Michaels

Despite Losing The Career Vs. Streak Match At WrestleMania 26, HBK Came Out Of Retirement In 2018

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (2)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom

6'1"

227lbs

Sweet Chin Music

  • WWE Champion (3 times)
  • World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • Intercontinental Champion (3 times)
  • WWE/World Tag Team Champion (5 times)
  • European Champion (1 time)
  • First-Ever Grand Slam Champion
  • Royal Rumble Winner (1995, 1996)
  • AWA World Tag Team Champion (2 times)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2011 individually, 2019 as a member of D-Generation X)

As we know, Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time, before and after his crippling back injury in 1998 which forced him into premature retirement for four years. After cementing his glorious legacy with his 2002-2010 comeback, Shawn retired a second time with honors at WrestleMania 26.

So, with nothing else to prove, it seemed completely unnecessary for The Heartbreak Kid to return to the ring for the controversial Crown Jewel event in 2018. And if the circumstances behind the show weren't bad enough, the main-event featuring Shawn & Triple H against The Brothers Of Destruction was easily the worst match of 2018. Shawn has long settled into his role of Head of NXT and, thankfully, has no desire to return to the ring again.

Can Still Perform: Christian Cage

The Patriach Has Had A Career Renaissance In All Elite Wrestling

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

William Jason Reso

6'1"

212lbs

Killswitch

  • NWA World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)
  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)
  • Impact World Champion (1 time)
  • AEW TNT Champion (2 times)
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion (4 times)
  • WWE Tag Team Champion (9 times)
  • WWE European Champion (1 time)
  • ECW Champion (2 times)
  • AEW World Trios Champion (1 time)
  • Casino Gauntlet Winner (2024)

One of the most talented and accomplished veterans of the sport, Christian Cage has legacies in both WWE and TNA that he can be proud of. After retiring in 2014, Christian would make his in-ring return in the 2021 Men's Royal Rumble, and then debut for All Elite Wrestling in March that year.

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His AEW run over these last few years has featured some of the best work of Cage's career. His feuds with Jack Perry, Swerve Strickland, and former partner/friend, Adam Copeland have made for great television. His successful run as the TNT Champion has further proved Christian can still deliver on the mic and in the ring, and at 51-years-old (and with a guaranteed AEW World Title shot in his future), the world is very much Christian's oyster.

Should Stay Retired: Mick Foley

Foley Had Wanted To Come Out Of Retirement For One More Deathmatch On His 60th Birthday

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (5)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Michael Francis Foley

6'2"

287lbs

  • Mandible Claw
  • Double Arm DDT
  • WWE Champion (3 times)
  • TNA World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Tag Team Champion (8 times)
  • WWE Hardcore Champion (1 time, inaugural)
  • WCW World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • ECW World Tag Team Champion (2 times)
  • TNA Legends Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2013)

The Hardcore Legend will forever be remembered . After giving so much blood, tears & sweat socks to the fans (and the business), Mick Foley had nothing left to prove after retiring in January 2012.

Many were shocked when Foley announced his intentions to get back in shape for one more match. After all the injuries Mick has sustained throughout his twenty-eight-year career - plus his current health issues - it is extremely ill-advised that he should consider any return to the ring, let alone a deathmatch. All we want now is for Mick to just have a nice day.

Can Still Perform: AJ Styles

The Phenomenal One Had Fantastic Matches With Cody Rhodes Over The WWE Championship In 2024

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (6)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Allen Neal Jones

5'11"

220lbs

  • Phenomenal Forearm
  • Styles Clash
  • Calf Crusher
  • Spiral Tap
  • TNA World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)
  • WWE Champion (2 times)
  • NWA World Heavyweight Champion (3 times)
  • TNA X-Division Champion (6 times, inaugural)
  • TNA World Tag Team Champion (2 times)
  • Bound For Glory Series Winner (2013)
  • WWE United States Champion (3 times)
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 time)
  • Raw Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • ROH World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • ROH Pure Champion (1 time, inaugural)

It's so easy to forget that AJ Styles made his wrestling debut in 1998. From establishing his Phenomenal reputation and legacy in TNA to cementing it in WWE, Styles has had such an amazing career that it makes one wonder what else there is left for him to achieve.

But in 2024, AJ proved that he was still Phenomenal. Following a dastardly heel turn at Elimination Chamber, Styles would put over LA Knight at WrestleMania 40, fake a retirement angle, and give two of WWE's best matches in 2024 against Cody Rhodes at Backlash and Clash At The Castle. Even at forty-seven, Styles has proved he has so much left to give to the business.

Should Stay Retired: Goldberg

The Hall Of Famer's In-Ring Work Has Been Very Inconsistent Since 2017

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (7)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

William Scott Goldberg

6'4"

285lbs

Jackhammer

  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • WWE World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Universal Champion (2 times)
  • WCW United States Champion (2 times)
  • WCW World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2018)

When the almighty Goldberg announced his astonishing comeback in 2016, it blew everybody away. The resultant program with Brock Lesnar redeemed Goldberg's legacy after his frustrating WWE run from 2003-04, and thus allowed the man to take his rightful place in the WWE Hall Of Fame.

But despite great matches since then - with Dolph Ziggler (at SummerSlam 2019) and Bobby Lashley (at Crown Jewell 2021) - Bill's disastrous match with The Undertaker (at Super Showdown 2019) and his various squashes of Kevin Owens and The Fiend have alienated fans. Having not wrestled since 2022, people aren't excited about the prospects of Goldberg's true retirement match for 2025.

Can Still Perform: Dustin Rhodes

At Fifty-Five Years Old, The Natural Is Showing No Signs Of Slowing Down

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Dustin Patrick Runnels

6'6"

235lbs

  • Curtain Call
  • Schizophrenic
  • Shattered Dreams
  • Cross Rhodes
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion (3 times)
  • WCW United States Champion (2 times)
  • WWE Hardcore Champion (7 times)
  • WWE/World Tag Team Champion (3 times)
  • NWA World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • WCW World Tag Team Champion (2 times)
  • ROH World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion (1 time)

In his prime, Dustin Rhodes secured a legacy as one of the greatest WWE Intercontinental Champions of all time with the Goldust gimmick. As the years rolled by, Dustin has aged like fine wine, still delivering excellent matches/moments with his younger brother Cody, and their late father Dusty.

In 2019, Dustin truly cemented his legacy in AEW, wrestling one of the greatest matches of all time against his brother Cody at the inaugural Double Or Nothing. Still under AEW contract, Dustin has remained a reliable performer with no signs of slowing down, continuing to enjoy his renaissance in Ring Of Honor.

Should Stay Retired: Sting

Retiring In A Blaze Of Glory At AEW Revolution 2024, The Stinger Has Nothing Left To Prove

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (8)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Steve Borden

6'2"

250lbs

  • Scorpion Death Lock
  • Scorpion Death Drop
  • NWA World Heavyweight Champion (1 time)
  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion (6 times)
  • WCW United States Champion (2 times)
  • WCW World Tag Team Champion (3 times)
  • TNA World Heavyweight Champion (4 times)
  • TNA World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • TNA Hall Of Famer (2012)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2016)
  • AEW World Tag Team Champion (1 time)

After Sting's disappointing run in WWE ended with an unfortunate neck injury and retirement, it came as a complete shock when The Stinger debuted in All Elite Wrestling in December 2020. Although past his prime as a wrestler, Sting enjoyed a great final run, mentoring Darby Allin and going undefeated for his entire AEW in-ring career.

Of course, it was worrying at times watching Sting perform all kinds of high-risk stunts in his sixties. And after having a great final match at AEW Revolution 2024, there is no need for Sting to further endanger his legacy and (more importantly) his health any longer.

Can Still Perform: Rey Mysterio

At Fifty Years Old, The Hall Of Famer Is Still A Valuable Member Of The WWE Roster

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Óscar Gutiérrez Rubio

5'6"

175lbs

  • 619
  • West Coast Pop
  • Frankensteiner
  • Droppin' Da Dime
  • World Heavyweight Champion (2 times)
  • WWE Champion (1 time)
  • WCW/WWE Cruiserweight Champion (8 times)
  • Royal Rumble Winner (2006)
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion (2 times)
  • WWE United States Champion (3 times)
  • WWE Tag Team Champion (5 times)
  • WCW World Tag Team Champion (3 times)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2023)

One of the most spectacular, thrilling and amazing wrestlers of all-time, what makes Rey Mysterio all-the-more incredible is the fact that he can still deliver high-risk offense at the age of fifty. Since his return to WWE in 2018, Mysterio has repeatedly proven that he has a lot left in the tank for matches and for emotional storylines.

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Rey's intense feud and subsequent match at WrestleMania 39 with son Dominik rank among the greatest work of his illustrious career. This, along with his run in 2024, are testament that the beloved Hall of Famer can still deliver after thirty-five years.

Should Stay Retired: Ric Flair

The Nature Boy Had Passed Out Twice Wrestling His Final Match At 73

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (10)

Real Name

Height

Weight

Finishing Move(s)

Career Accomplishments

Richard Morgan Fliehr

6'1"

243lbs

Figure Four Leg Lock

  • NWA World Heavyweight Champion (9 times)
  • WCW World Heavyweight Champion (8 times)
  • WWE Champion (2 times)
  • NWA/WCW United States Champion (6 times)
  • Royal Rumble Winner (1992)
  • WWE Intercontinental Champion (1 time)
  • WWE World Tag Team Champion (1 time)
  • WWE Hall Of Famer (2008 individually, 2012 with The Four Horsemen)
  • NWA Hall Of Famer (2008)

When discussing the greatest professional wrestlers who ever lived, Ric Flair is one of the highest-ranking candidates due to the glorious quality of his matches, his promos and his longevity. And The Nature Boy was given the perfect swansong in his WrestleMania 24 match with Shawn Michaels.

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Unfortunately, The Nature Boy just didn't know when to call it quits. Even after a disastrous run in TNA (which saw him still competing in the ring), Flair further endangered his legacy and his health by wrestling at the age of seventy-three in 2022! Mercifully, he hasn't wrestled since that debacle, and it's way past time for The Nature Boy to leave the memories alone.

Wrestling Legends Who Can Still Perform Well (& Who Should Stay Retired) (2025)
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